Horizontal lifeline system and method of adjusting a horizontal lifeline system

Abstract

A horizontal lifeline system includes a first termination arrangement structured to attach to a first anchor point, a second termination arrangement structured to attach to a second anchor point, a horizontal lifeline cable coupled to the first termination arrangement, a rope length adjuster attached to the horizontal lifeline cable and having a housing through which the horizontal lifeline cable can be pulled to adjust the length of the horizontal lifeline system and apply tension to the horizontal lifeline cable, and a tension limiting ratchet coupled between the second termination arrangement and the rope length adjuster and being structured to be ratcheted to increase tension applied to the horizontal lifeline cable and to provide an indication and deter further ratcheting when the tension applied to the horizontal lifeline cable reaches a predetermined tension limit.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A horizontal lifeline system comprising:
 a first termination arrangement structured to attach to a first anchor point; 
 a second termination arrangement structured to attach to a second anchor point; 
 a horizontal lifeline cable coupled to the first termination arrangement; 
 a rope length adjuster attached to the horizontal lifeline cable and having a housing through which the horizontal lifeline cable can be pulled to adjust the length of the horizontal lifeline system and apply tension to the horizontal lifeline cable; 
 a tension limiting ratchet coupled between the second termination arrangement and the rope length adjuster and being structured to be ratcheted to increase tension applied to the horizontal lifeline cable and to provide an indication and deter further ratcheting when the tension applied to the horizontal lifeline cable reaches a predetermined tension limit; and 
 webbing having a first end attached to the tension limiting ratchet and a second end directly attached to the rope length adjuster, 
 wherein the tension limiting ratchet is structured to pull in the webbing when the tension limiting ratchet is ratcheted. 
 
     
     
       2. The horizontal lifeline system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second webbing coupled between the tension limiting ratchet and one of the first and second termination arrangements. 
 
     
     
       3. The horizontal lifeline system of  claim 1 , wherein the tension limiting ratchet includes:
 an upper handle; 
 a lower handle attached to the upper handle; and 
 a spring arrangement structured to hold the upper handle and the lower handle in alignment with each other while the tension applied to the horizontal lifeline cable is below the predetermined tension limit and to release and allow the upper handle to rotate with respect to the lower handle when the tension applied to the horizontal lifeline cable is above the predetermined tension limit. 
 
     
     
       4. The horizontal lifeline system of  claim 1 , wherein the tension limiting ratchet is structured to provide a visual or tactile indication when the tension applied to the horizontal lifeline cable reaches the predetermined tension limit. 
     
     
       5. The horizontal lifeline system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an energy absorber coupled between the first and second termination arrangements, 
 wherein the energy absorber is structured to deploy during an arrest event. 
 
     
     
       6. The horizontal lifeline system of  claim 5 , wherein the energy absorber is structured to deploy at a predetermined tension, and
 wherein the predetermined tension limit is less than the predetermined tension. 
 
     
     
       7. The horizontal lifeline system of  claim 1 , wherein the horizontal lifeline cable is a rope composed of fabric or polymer material. 
     
     
       8. The horizontal lifeline system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second termination arrangements include at least one of a hook, a carabiner, or a ring. 
     
     
       9. A method of adjusting a horizontal lifeline system, the method comprising:
 providing a horizontal lifeline system including a horizontal lifeline cable, a rope length adjuster, and a tension limiting ratchet being structured to be ratcheted to increase tension applied to the horizontal lifeline cable and to provide an indication and deter further ratcheting when the tension applied to the horizontal lifeline cable reaches a predetermined tension limit; 
 adjusting a length and tension of the horizontal lifeline system using the rope length adjuster; and 
 ratcheting the tension limiting ratchet to increase the tension of the horizontal lifeline system to the predetermined tension limit. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , wherein adjusting the length and tension of the horizontal lifeline system using the rope length adjuster includes threading the horizontal lifeline cable through a housing of the rope length adjuster and pulling the horizontal lifeline cable through the housing of the rope length adjuster to shorten the length and increase the tension of the horizontal lifeline system. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 waiting an amount of time and checking and re-adjusting the tension of the horizontal lifeline system by ratcheting the tension limiting ratchet until the tension limiting ratchet provides the indication and deters further ratcheting. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the tension limiting ratchet includes:
 an upper handle; 
 a lower handle attached to the upper handle; and 
 a spring arrangement structured to hold the upper handle and the lower handle in alignment with each other while the tension applied to the horizontal lifeline cable is below the predetermined tension limit and to release and allow the upper handle to rotate with respect to the lower handle when the tension applied to the horizontal lifeline cable is above the predetermined tension limit. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the tension limiting ratchet is structured to provide a visual and/or tactile indication when the tension applied to the horizontal lifeline cable reaches the predetermined tension limit. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the horizontal lifeline system further includes webbing coupled between the tension limiting ratchet and the rope length adjuster,
 wherein the tension limiting ratchet is structured to pull in the webbing when the tension limiting ratchet is ratcheted.